City approves program aimed at cutting energy costs

Published 5:02 pm Monday, January 13, 2020

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen has instituted an energy program that is estimated to save the city more than $60,000 a year in utility bills and save operation and maintenance costs at the Vicksburg Convention Center.

Earlier this month, the board approved a $2.4 million contract with Jackson-based Path Co. LLC, a company that specializes in using technology to develop ways to improve energy efficiency for companies and organizations like the city.

The board in December approved a $2.7 million lease-payment agreement with Trustmark National Bank to pay for the project, which includes replacing the lighting in all the city buildings with LED lights and removing and replacing the 13 air conditioning units at the convention center.

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According to estimates from Path, the LED lighting is expected to save the city about $70,000 a year in utility costs. Replacing the convention center units is expected to save about $18,000 in operation and maintenance costs.

“The (energy) savings will pay for the cost of it (the loan),” Flaggs said. “When you go to LED lighting, it’s almost a net savings.”

Flaggs said city officials hope to have enough money remaining after the upgrades to be able to improve the lighting and air conditioning at the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley Railroad Depot.

He said the new program is not like the energy savings program the city had with Siemens in 2011. The contract with Siemens called for the city to pay $7.64 million to be paid over 15 years to save $6.86 million. Siemens was supposed to install energy-saving equipment such as lighting and plumbing fixtures.

The present board in 2018 canceled a portion of the contract with Siemens that contained a fee for a performance assurance service program, where Siemens’ employees would evaluate the energy savings from changes the city made. 

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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